Team Proposes Walgreens Design Changes
The Planning and Zoning Commission at the August 7 meeting approved a wooden frame residential architectural model with a color scheme, vinyl siding, and decorative windows similar to the Deep River Shopping Center across the street and the Guilford Walgreens.
The committee suggested the pharmacy have architectural elements similar to the Southbury Walgreens with brick elements.
In a recommendation report, the team reported “the Southbury model strikes us as being more appropriate for this site than the current design because it has similarities with other civic and commercial buildings in town.”
Specifically it recommends the corner entry element to be similar to the elementary school and the entrance tower be designed as an open pavilion without decorative windows or a roof peak.
The pavilion is part of the team’s recommendation for the creation of an open pedestrian plaza consisting of two brick paved walkways, one leading pedestrians southbound to the Elms while the other going westbound to the parking lot.
The team suggested the brick walkways be similar to that of the pedestrian plaza in front of the Deep River Shopping Center and that the plaza be free of plants in concrete holders.
Jonathan Kastner, chair of the Planning and Zoning Commission said the commission has prohibited Walgreens from using this area for storage, shopping carts, or merchandise.
In these walkways, the committee recommends the placement of several benches similar to those at the Deep River Shopping Center, the same recommendation Kastner said was made by the commission.
Creating a smaller southern pavilion at the southeast end of the building, which faces Main Street, is another recommendation the team made explaining it could be home for a new town bulletin board.
The team liked the idea for a proposed cornice but stated it should be “simple but significant”.
The cornice is a structure resembling a porch wall that would be built on the roof to hide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, HVAC, equipment and cause its noise to flow upward and not to the side.
The team also suggested lowering the slope of the roofed element over the pedestrian walkway, eliminating the sloped roof on the canopy at the drive through, and having signage mounted on wood panels.
According to a letter from Town Attorney Jane Marsh to William M. Petroccio, the law firm representing 180 Main Street, the proposed changes will “make the building more appealing to the townspeople, minimize the appearance of being out of scale, making it more harmonious with the small village character and the design characteristics of nearby buildings.”
Walgreens is willing to have design elements changed in exchange for 15 designated parking spaces closest to the pharmacy.
“Both sides have agreed that the remainder of the town’s municipal lot including 18 spaces on the latest plan will be unrestricted as to use,” Marsh stated.
This team consisted of four representatives from the Citizens for Deep River Center group: John Kennedy, Paul Gurda, Peter Howard, and Frank Santoro.
Other review team members included three architects not members of the citizens group: Chester resident Steven Lloyd, James Coan, an Essex resident who works for Centerbrook Architects, and Richard King, a Deep River resident who serves as chairman of the Town Hall Building Committee.
Additional participants included First Selectman Richard Smith, Zoning Enforcement Officer Kathie Jefferson, and Kenneth Kleban from Turnpike Properties.
“I would like to have a firm assurance that this will get done and not the original building,” Howard said, adding he believes this alternate design is met with favor with Walgreens.
At press time, it was uncertain whether Turnpike Properties and Walgreens will accept the alternate design.
Kennedy who disliked the original design said in this design, “they removed the decorative element and made it useful.”
Gurda admitted he is against “big-box” stores and compared the store to a cake in a box.
“The more they can minimize the degree that it’s in a cake box, so much the better,” Gurda said.
Discussions regarding details of the land swap are expected to continue after the September 14 land swap referendum.
If the referendum passes, Turnpike Properties will demolish the former LaPlace store and build a shared parking lot on town-owned 180 Main Street and construct a Walgreens pharmacy at 184-188 Main Street.
The town will receive $100,000 for a town hall expansion, Smith said.
If the referendum fails, Smith believes the LaPlace building will be renovated by Turnpike Properties and house one or two stores unless another deal is worked out.
A failed referendum would mean the town-owned 184-188 Main Street parcel would continue to be vacant.
Turnpike Properties is reviewing purchase of The Elms for professional offices or a bank.
However, Smith said the purchase may not happen if the referendum fails.
Results of the referendum were not available at press time.
